Recent tensions around the Strait of Hormuz have underscored shipping’s continued reliance on conventional oil and gas systems, despite ongoing efforts to transition towards lower-carbon fuels, according to Dubai-based fuel technology company Fuelre4m.

Rob Mortimer, chief executive of Fuelre4m, indicated that instability in the Gulf has prompted immediate responses in global energy markets, exposing a gap between decarbonisation ambitions and the operational realities faced by the maritime sector.

“While the industry is moving toward alternative fuels such as LNG, methanol and ammonia, geopolitics operates on a different timeline,” Mortimer said. “The current situation highlights how fragile these emerging fuel systems remain compared to the resilience of established oil and gas infrastructure.”

He pointed out that traditional hydrocarbons benefit from decades of investment in global supply networks, enabling widespread and reliable refuelling. In contrast, infrastructure for alternative fuels remains limited, with LNG bunkering available at relatively few ports, methanol production concentrated in specific regions, and green ammonia still dependent on developing renewable energy systems.

According to Mortimer, this imbalance introduces operational challenges. During periods of disruption, vessels capable of using alternative fuels may revert to conventional fuel oil, reducing the practical impact of cleaner fuel adoption.

He also highlighted broader concerns around the effectiveness of current decarbonisation approaches, suggesting that some mechanisms may redistribute emissions geographically rather than reduce them overall, due to factors such as carbon markets and differing regulatory regimes.

Within shipping, regulatory pressure continues to drive investment in new fuel technologies. However, Mortimer argued that greater emphasis should be placed on reducing fuel consumption itself.

“One of the most immediate and cost-effective ways to reduce emissions is simply to use less fuel,” he said. “Operational efficiency, improved combustion and optimisation technologies can deliver meaningful reductions today, yet they receive far less policy attention.”

He added that many shipowners are operating in what he described as a compliance-focused environment, where capital allocation is driven primarily by regulatory requirements rather than by direct emissions-reduction outcomes.

Mortimer further noted that geopolitical tensions continue to centre on key energy corridors, reinforcing the ongoing strategic importance of fossil fuels.

“The reality is that the energy transition is not yet replacing the existing system; it is being layered on top of it,” he said. “Until the global economy focuses on reducing overall energy consumption, rather than simply substituting fuels, geopolitical events will continue to expose the systems that truly power the world.”

Fuelre4m develops fuel treatment technologies to improve combustion efficiency in diesel and other hydrocarbon fuels, with the objective of reducing fuel consumption and emissions without requiring engine modifications.